Brecknockshire, 23 S.W. Parish of Llanelieu, 4 *.

Latitude 52° 00' 23". Longitude 3° 1 1' 46". Height above O.D., a little above 1000 feet.

Length 120 feet. Remains of the burial-chamber are visible at the eastern end, consisting of five vertical slabs, two on each side and the fifth closing the eastern end of the chamber. Further west on the mound (which is quite well preserved) are two other large stones, one of them probably once the capstone covering the chamber described. The mound is distinctly egg-shaped ; there are no certain signs of a surrounding wall. The east end and the centre have been much dug about.

This mound and the southern mound adjacent are thus described by the Rev. T. Price ("Carnhuanawc ") in his "Hanes Cyimu (History of Wales) 1842, p.32. (In Welsh; kindly translated for me in the extract given below by Mr. W. H. B. Somerset): "The most notable grave-mounds I saw in Wales are in the parish of Llanelieu, Brecknockshire, on the land of a farm called Ffos-y-tyll. The biggest of these mounds [f.e., the northern] is 45 yards long, 20 yards wide and about 2 yards high ; and they showed that they were full of cistvaens of some size - one of which was lately broken up for the sake of the stones. There are still enough left to show its size and its workmanship. It was 10 feet long, 5 feet wide and 8 feet deep, formed of great stones one at each end and two on each side and covered with corresponding stones."

The mound is oriented 67 degrees E. of true north, the wider and higher end being to the east.

Visited August 4th, 1921 and August 17th, 1924.

T. Price. Hanes Cymru (Hist, of Wales), 1842, p. 32.

Western Mail, November 29th, 1921 (C. E. Vulliamy).

Arch. Camb. Lxxvi (7 S. Vol. i.), 1921, 301.

Brecknockshire, 23 S.W. Parish of Llanelieu, 5*.

Latitude 52° 00' 21". Longitude 3° 11' 47". Height above O.D., a little above 1000 feet.

This mound was visited on August 4th, 1921, when it was recorded that this and the adjacent one stood in a field, cultivation being carried on right up to the edge of the mound ; and that it had been much disturbed. It was also noticed that the remains of a passage or chamber were visible. The mound was subsequently explored by Mr. C. E. Vulliamy from whose account in Arch. Camb. the following description is taken:-

The axis is 21 degrees east of the true north. Both mounds had been disturbed. "At first glance [the southern one] appeared to have suffered a more searching devastation. Here I found that a vast amount of stone had been moved from the southern end, and there was considerable disturbance in the area which I expected to contain the principal cist. Furthermore a large covering-stone lay tilted on the face of the mound. On examination, I came to the conclusion that neither of these disturbances had touched the burial-chamber, which, though its form was not clear, was traceable in the centre of the highest part of the barrow. From information supplied by Mr. Gwillym, the tenant of the farm, I learned that stone had been removed from the lower [southern] end of the barrow about forty-five years ago, to supply material for road-making ; and at that time quantities of human bones had come to light. I could find no account of the higher [northern and central] disturbance." . . The length of the mound is 108 feet and its greatest breadth about 65 feet. The burial-chamber is ii feet by 4 feet. Arrangements were made to excavate it ; work was begun on September 20th, 1921 and lasted four days. ''We found that the eastern side [of the burial-chamber] had collapsed inwards." The side-stones appeared to have been artificially trimmed; their dimensions are from 2 feet 4 inches to 4 feet 2 inches in breadth, from 5 feet to 6 feet 6 inches in depth and from 4 inches to 8 inches in thickness. "A comparatively small slab which we found tilted against the northern end of the chamber may have been part of an additional covering-stone, since the main capstone is not large enough to have roofed the entire cist. . We had not attained a depth of more than a foot when we found a layer of burnt bones, mostly in very small fragments, too small for exact identification, except in a few cases, but for the most part apparently not human, and probably representing the remains of goats, oxen, pigs and other domesticated animals. There were a few pinches of charcoal in this stratum. At a depth of 2 feet to 3 feet 6 inches (but not lower) we discovered human remains in abundance, throughout the whole length of the chamber.

"The bones were in the utmost confusion ; only in a few instances were they in anatomical relation to each other, and by far the greater number were split and broken." The following is a summary of what was found:-

70 fragments of crania and lower jaws.

36 metacarpal, metatarsal and phalanges.

6 vertebrae.

30 detached teeth.

135 fragments of long bones.

240 miscellaneous fragments, including bones other than human.

"Of the human remains the most interesting are:-

(1) The frontal bone and greater part of left parietal of a small adult skull, remarkably dolichocephalic ;

(2) A male frontal bone, with strongly marked supra-orbital ridges •

(3) Other portions of skulls.

". . It was found that the remains were those of not fewer than nine individuals, of both sexes and various ages. I do not know how to account for:-

(1) The absence of any fragment that could be definitely assigned to a pelvic bone ;

(2) The surprisingly small number of vertebrae discovered ;

(3) The fewness of carpal and metacarpal bones ;

(4) The entire disappearance of the greater part of the skeletal remains, assuming that the bodies were buried intact. But it is probable that we are here dealing with an ossuary, in which only selections were deposited.

The best specimens were submitted to Sir Arthur Keith, and his report may be thus condensed:-

"The bones show the 'dry, earthy texture' and in some cases the 'black, metallic surface impregnation' which is characteristic of remains of ancient date. By an elaborate but reliable method of reconstruction it was found that the cephalic index of the best preserved cranium was 70 - ^the skull was nearly 22mm. narrower than previously recorded neolithic skulls from Wales. The individual had a 'very narrow, relatively high, and rather small head.' Presumably the cranium is that of a man, about 40 years of age. Among the lower jaws was that of an old woman - 'she must have had a face cast in a small, almost delicate mould.' The astragali show well marked 'squatting facets.'. . Although the principal remains were inhumations, untouched by fire, Sir Arthur has identified, from fragments, the cremated remains of a youth and of a very young child. In addition to the non-human species mentioned above, there were parts of the skull and jaws of a cat.' The people were of short stature, the adult males being estimated by Mr. Vulliamy at 5 feet 4 inches.

"No traces of pottery were discovered, but we found three pieces of flint within the cist. ... Fragments of flint and occasional implements are scattered over the field in which the tumuli are situated, and over other fields in the vicinity.

"Photographs of the bones, plans of the barrow and chamber, and an account of the excavation have been placed with the official records of the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales (H.M. Office of Works). Typical specimens of the human remains were presented to the Royal College of Surgeons, and accepted by the President for the Museum of the College."

This mound and the adjacent one (No. 4) are now both scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act.

On a plan of this mound, kindly lent me by Mr. Vulliamy, he says:- "A recent excavation (July 4th, 1922) made by me outside the northern end of the chamber has revealed cremated burials (including that of a very young child). The interred remains of one adult, unburnt animal remains (pig or goat), fragments of rude pottery - impure clay mixed with quartz grains - and no fewer than 17 pieces of flint and chert, all showing signs of fire. Charcoal in streaks, burnt earth and burnt stones were found."

Arch. Camb. LXXVI. (7 S. Vol. i), 1921, 301-305. (Plans of mound and chamber and section). 26. zJ. 1923 pp. 320-324.

T. Price, op. cit,

Brecon and Radnor Express, October 13th, 1921

Brecknockshire, 41 N.E. Parish of Crickhowell. 6*.

Latitude 51° 51' 55". Longitude 3° 08' 45". Height above O.D. 253 feet.

"This cromlech, one end of which adjoined the Brecon turnpike road on the south side, was immediately opposite Gwernvale, about half-a-mile from Crickhowell: it consisted as usual of a huge tablet of unhewn stone mounted upon five supporters pitched edgewise in the ground, the superincumbent stone or cover inclining to the south and open in the front to the north: it was placed on a high mound, long overrun with brushwood and brambles, and formerly there seem to have been stones placed edgewise also round what is now almost a semi-circle ; whether before the turnpike road was made they extended so as to describe an irregular circle I know not ; but I am inclined to think that the appearance of the spot was materially altered by the intersection of the highway ; and that upon that occasion the workmen. . anticipated our attempt to make discoveries under the cromlech ; in that case the object, though far different from ours, was probably equally unsuccessful. .... the experiment in 1804 proved nothing either way (as to the sepulchral or other object of the cromlech)."

The above somewhat guarded account by Theophilus Jones may be supplemented by an extract from an unpublished diary of Sir Richard Colt Hoare's, kindly contributed by Mr. A. D. Passmore who possessed the manuscript:- "Saturday, May 26th (1803). This morning was devoted to opening a cromlech or kistvaen adjoining the turnpike road near Crickhowell and opposite the house of Mr. Everett: with some difficulty the upper stone, measuring ten feet in length, being removed, we dug to the base of the surrounding upright stones, which had supported the recumbent one, but found no signs of an interment or relics ; but a few pieces of charcoal seem to indicate cremation. [This does not follow at all. - O.G.S.C.] The history of the cromlech has not as yet been sufficiently ascertained, and it remains a doubt whether it was designed for an altar or sepulchre. The kistvaen or stone chest was clearly designed for an interment."

The burial-chamber stands in an allotment close by the side of the Brecon-Crickhowell road, from which it is separated only by a wall. It lies on the south side of the road, nearly 200 yards east of the first milestone from Grickhowell and opposite the entrance drive to Gwernvale House. About eight large, upright slabs are still in position, they are about 5 feet in height. The plan of the chamber is polygonal, and the entrance (on the S.W.), is flanked by two uprights. Except for the disappearance of the capstone removed by Sir Richard Colt Hoare, the monument does not seem to have suffered much. It is probable that the orientation was from N.E. - S.W., which is what the orientation of the chamber and approach now is ; but the mound has almost vanished, though the earth being banked up much higher on the outer side of the stones forming the chamber proves that a mound existed. The chamber is now used as a receptacle for old pails, bottles and jam jars, and is probably, from its position, in considerable danger of destruction. Its interest does not appear to be realised locally.

Theophilus Jones, History of the County of Brecknock, Vol. ii. 1809, 435.

Sir Richard Colt Hoare, A Tour through Wales in 1803 (unpublished MS. in the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff).

Brecknockshire, 17 S.E. Parish of Llanigon. 7 *.

Latitude 52° 03' 05". Longitude 3° 07' 50". Height above O.D., about 850 feet.

This barrow is not marked on the 2nd edition (1905). It was being excavated at the time of my visit (August 12th, 1921) by the Rector of Llanigon, the Rev. W. E. T. Morgan, and Mr. George Marshall, F.S.A., of the Manor House, Breinton, Hereford. It is situated on a piece of waste land which has never been brought under cultivation, called locally "The Rocky Common." The mound itself appears to have no name, but was said by an inhabitant to have been known as "The Druid's Altar."

An account of this barrow was published by Mr. C. E. Vulliamy in Man, from which the following summary is compiled.

The side-stones of the cist at the east end of the barrow had been visible for many years protruding above the level of the soil. The work of excavation "was undertaken by representatives of the Woolhope Club of Hereford. Unfortunately, the excavation was not carried out with much regard for method, and the most interesting material has been collected subsequently from the piles of debris which were thrown up on either side of the cist." The barrow is rather a cairn than an earthen mound and consists of slabs of local sandstone. "Pear-shaped in plan, the greatest length is 6o feet and the greatest width about 33 feet. The axis of the cairn, along the line of greatest length is 66° east of true north, and the axis of the cist, 62° . The eastern end is much higher than the western." The dimensions of the cist are:- "North side, 7 feet 6 inches, south side, 8 feet 6 inches ; west side, 6 feet 4 inches. The eastern slab is obviously split in half and the northern, though shown [on the plan] in situ, has tilted outward. The greatest dimensions of the side slabs are North, 6 feet 6 inches wide, 5 feet 3 inches high ; south, 6 feet 5 inches wide, 5 feet 4 inches high ; east (fragment) 2 feet 5 inches wide, 3 feet 8 inches high ; west, 5 feet 8 inches wide, 4 feet 7 inches high. Excavations have been made at certain places, revealing, at the western end, two small blocks set on edge." I was informed by Mr. W. E. T. Morgan that charcoal had been found here but no burnt bones. "Large slabs protrude at three points ; those on the northern and southern edges seem to mark the periphery of the cairn.

Brecknockshire, 29 S.W. Parish of Talgarth. 10 *.

Latitude 51° 57' 13". Longitude 3° 11' 26". Height above O.D., 874 feet.

This Long Barrow is not marked on any map and was discovered by me quite accidentally on August 7th, 1921. It is about 95 feet long and lies in a small grass field immediately above and about 100 yards N.W. of Ty-isaf Farm. Two chambers are visible and there are indications of more.

Mr. Evan Morgan, of Brecon, contributes the following account:- "The width of the barrow at chamber A is 48 feet and its height about 3 or 4 feet at the place of measured width. North of A the barrow appears to be in its original state, but south of it considerable disturbance has taken place.

"Chamber A has been uncovered and its capstone is missing. Its length is about 10 feet and its width 4 feet. It is thus considerably larger than Ty Illtyd which is about 6 feet long by 3 feet 4 inches wide. [It is perhaps possible that Ty Illtyd had a double length, as is suggested by a slab-stone on the N.E. boundary of the existing chamber there.] The side stones or uprights at the S.W. corner are missing, but probably one of them is that now lying on the ground close to the chamber (See plan). The heights of the E. and W. end-stones above the present surface are about 3 feet and i foot 6 inches respectively. The floor of the chamber consists of a number of small stones.

"Chamber B has its capstone in position. It rests at the east end on an upright block about 18 inches above the present surface, and is embedded in the mound at its W. end. Its greatest exposed length is about 6 feet and its greatest width 5 feet 6 inches. The chamber is exposed to view from its east end, but it is not possible to take any measurements on the inside. The side-stones appear to have been removed ; at any rate they are not now visible.

"The supposed Chamber is suggested by an upright stone in the barrow, the top of which just rises above the surface. The mound here does not appear to have been disturbed, and the chamber, if such it is, is intact.

"The upright stone at D may be a relic of a i;ioo chamber which once existed at the southern end of the barrow. It is about 1 foot 6 inches long, 1 foot high, and between 3 and 4 inches thick. It lies in a rough undergrowth of thorns about 6 to 8 feet from the south end of the mound."